The early morning sky was painted in soft hues of orange and pink, the city still shrouded in the quiet of dawn. Ethan stood outside the courthouse, his hands trembling slightly as he stared at the woman in front of him. Her confidence, her calm demeanor—it was as if the events of last night hadn't happened at all.
Lila turned to him, her sharp gaze cutting through his thoughts. "What are you waiting for? Let's go."
Ethan hesitated, his logical mind screaming at him to turn around and leave. "Are you serious about this?" he asked for what felt like the tenth time.
"Completely," she replied without a hint of doubt. "You saved me last night, Ethan. Now, it's your turn to save yourself. This isn't just for me—it's for you too."
Her words struck a chord, though Ethan wasn't sure why. He let out a defeated sigh. "I still think this is insane."
Lila smirked faintly. "Good. Insanity keeps life interesting."
With that, she turned and strode into the courthouse, leaving Ethan to follow.
---
Inside, the courthouse was as dull as he expected. The walls were painted an uninspiring shade of beige, the chairs lined up neatly but mostly empty. A sleepy clerk sat behind the counter, his face half-hidden behind a newspaper.
Lila approached the counter with her usual unflappable confidence. "We'd like to register a marriage."
The clerk lowered his newspaper, his eyes narrowing as he sized them up. "Do you have the necessary documents?"
Without missing a beat, Lila pulled a folder from her bag and handed it over. Ethan's jaw nearly dropped. She had come prepared. *She planned this. How?*
The clerk flipped through the documents, nodding as he read. "Everything seems to be in order. Follow me."
Ethan felt like he was walking in a daze as they followed the clerk to a small, plain room. The walls were bare except for a faded calendar, and a single desk sat at the center, where the clerk pulled out a stamp and a stack of papers.
"All right, let's get started," the clerk said, barely suppressing a yawn. He cleared his throat and began reciting the vows in a monotone voice.
Ethan shifted uncomfortably, his mind racing. "Do you, Ethan Miller, take Lila Hart to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, till death do you part?"
This was it. The moment where he should say no, walk away, and pretend none of this ever happened. But when he looked at Lila, standing there so calm and composed, he caught something in her expression—a flicker of vulnerability, a crack in her armor.
"I…" Ethan swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "I do."
The clerk turned to Lila. "And do you, Lila Hart, take Ethan Miller to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, till death do you part?"
"I do," Lila said without hesitation.
The clerk stamped their documents with an air of finality. "By the power vested in me by the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Congratulations."
Ethan stared at the marriage certificate in his hands, the weight of the moment finally sinking in. He was married. To a stranger.
---
As they stepped out of the courthouse, the first rays of sunlight bathed the city in a warm golden glow. Lila glanced at Ethan, a small, almost teasing smile on her lips.
"Well, husband," she said, her voice light but laced with meaning, "ready to start our new life together?"
Ethan let out a shaky laugh. "I guess I don't have a choice."
But before he could say anything more, a strange sensation washed over him. It was as if his entire body was humming with an unfamiliar energy. The world around him blurred for a moment, and then, out of nowhere, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"System activated. Congratulations on completing your first major life milestone: Marriage."
Ethan stumbled, clutching his head as a sharp jolt of pain shot through his temples. "What the—"
The voice continued, calm and emotionless:
"Welcome to the Spoil Your Wife System. Your goal: ensure your wife's happiness to unlock rewards and achieve greatness. Failure to meet your wife's satisfaction may result in penalties."
"What is this? Who's talking?" Ethan muttered aloud, drawing a curious glance from Lila.
"First task: Make your wife breakfast. Reward: $500 deposited into your bank account."
The words floated in his mind, glowing faintly as if written on an invisible screen. Ethan blinked, his confusion mounting. What kind of system was this? And why him?
"Ethan?" Lila's voice broke through his thoughts.
He looked up at her, forcing a weak smile. "Uh… nothing. Just… still processing everything."
Lila raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, you'd better start processing fast. We're married now, and there's no going back."
As she turned and began walking down the courthouse steps, Ethan glanced around, half-expecting someone to jump out and tell him it was all a joke. But no one came.
Instead, the voice returned, insistent and impossible to ignore:
"Reminder: Task deadline: 1 hour. Make your wife breakfast."
Ethan groaned. His life had officially taken a turn for the bizarre, and he had no idea what to do next. But one thing was certain—his journey with Lila had only just begun.